Harry relishing clash

Harry Redknapp is looking to throw the title race wide open with a win over leaders Manchester United at the Lane on Sunday.

Harry Redknapp is looking to throw the title race wide open with a win over leaders Manchester United at the Lane on Sunday.

The Reds have opened up a two-point gap over second-placed Manchester City with two games in hand over their big rivals at the top of the Premier League.

We sit eight points behind Sir Alex Ferguson’s men in fourth, four points behind third placed Arsenal and a point ahead of fifth placed Chelsea.

United are unbeaten to date in the current league campaign so Harry knows how difficult our task will be this weekend.

But having lost just once in the last 13 games, the manager knows he is taking a side bang in form into this mouth-watering contest.

He said: “I think it would open the title race up again if we won.

“At the moment United are in fantastic shape. They are top of the league and have a good lead on everybody so I think everyone at the top will be hoping that we can pull off the result, close the gap and keep everyone involved.

“It's not easy. They haven't hit the heights this year but they haven't been beaten, which is a fantastic achievement and sooner or later they will hit their top form and then everyone will be in trouble.

“We have been playing well though. We have been in top form. We have lost once in the last 13 games and that shows the kind of form we're in so it's a great game to look forward to.”

However, the record books are not in our favour with our last victory over United nearly 11 years ago now.

But Harry is confident times are ready to change, and added: “I wouldn't make excuses about being beaten by them in the past.

“We have good players and are a better team than the one that played them last year and the year before so we have every chance.

“We went 1-0 up against them here last year and they came back and played fantastic. It was probably the best game of the season for them. They outplayed us that day but we are a much-improved team. We have more experience.

“If you look at most clubs they won't have too different a record. If you beat them it's a real feather in your cap because it's not easy to do.”